Santorini Revisited: Five Hotels for Second-Time Visitors
Beyond the first-visit crowds. Five exceptional Santorini hotels in Imerovigli, Fira, and Pyrgos for travellers returning to the island
You came once. You did Oia at golden hour, elbowed through the crowds at the castle, snapped the blue domes, sipped that overpriced wine with a caldera view. You fell hard for Santorini, as everyone does. But something happened on the flight home, a quiet realization: the island has more to give. The question now is not whether to return. The question is how.
The second visit demands a different kind of itinerary. It requires hotels that understand you have already ticked the boxes, that you are not here for the postcard anymore. You want depth. Privacy. The texture of a place rather than its highlights reel.
These five hotels operate on that frequency. Some sit in the quieter villages of Imerovigli and Pyrgos. Others claim prime caldera real estate in Fira but manage to feel removed from the chaos. One has no restaurant at all, just room service and a telescope. Another has four dining venues and a spa built around the philosophy of balance. What they share is an awareness that Santorini, properly explored, is not a single destination but a constellation of experiences. Each property represents a different approach to the same problem: how to return to an island you already love and love it even more.
Imerovigli: The Balcony of the Aegean
Imerovigli is the highest village on the caldera rim, a ten-minute walk from Fira but silent in comparison. This is where repeat visitors tend to gravitate, drawn by the altitude and the absence of cruise ship foot traffic. Two hotels here understand the assignment.
LUKAS Aethereal Living
Imerovigli, Santorini
The story begins in 1992, when a young man named Lukas looked at his family's land on the caldera edge and saw possibility. At that time, Imerovigli had only two other accommodation options. Tourism was not yet an industry here, just an experiment. Lukas built something modest and ran it himself, greeting guests with the kind of warmth that comes from actually caring whether someone enjoys their stay.
Three decades later, his son Charalampos has taken over. The property has grown, absorbed two major renovations in 2014 and 2023, and acquired a name that nods to both legacy and aspiration: LUKAS Aethereal Living. But the fundamentals remain. This is a family operation. The staff remember your coffee order. The hospitality feels personal because it is.
The location matters. LUKAS sits at the highest edge of the caldera cliffs, above all other buildings in Imerovigli. The corner position means year-round sunset views and genuine privacy, a rare combination on an island where terraces often stack atop one another like geological strata. Direct street access eliminates the usual caldera-hotel problem of descending and ascending dozens of steps with luggage. You park, you walk in, you exhale.
Suites range from twenty-five to eighty square metres. Each comes with a private heated hot tub on the terrace, positioned for that view you came back for. The design language is Cycladic in the best sense: white walls, curved forms, natural materials. No ironic touches or aggressive modernity. The renovation preserved the cave-like intimacy of traditional Santorinian architecture while updating the bones. Aesop in the bathrooms. Proper linens. Details that matter when you are spending five days rather than two.
Breakfast arrives at your suite each morning. The concierge books your dinner reservations and suggests which beaches to visit before noon, when the crowds descend. A staff member named Claude, according to recent reviews, brings it all together with genuine enthusiasm. The small scale is the point. Eleven rooms. That is it.
West East Suites
Imerovigli, Santorini
The name sounds like a riddle until you see the building. West East Suites faces both directions, capturing the caldera sunset on one side and the Aegean sunrise on the other. The owners, who are also the architects, designed the property to be bisected by light. Most hotels here force a choice between views. This one refuses.
The architecture rewards attention. Cube structures layer across multiple levels, following the volcanic terrain rather than fighting it. Water elements run throughout, pool-channels and reflecting surfaces that guide you from parking to reception to suite. Red accents appear everywhere, a deliberate reference to Santorini's lava. The colour punches against the white Cycladic walls and the black volcanic rock, creating something that reads as dramatic but not overdone.
Sixteen suites, sixteen different approaches to the idea of luxury accommodation. The smallest runs about thirty-five square metres. The largest, the Infinity Suite at seventy-five square metres, includes both an outdoor heated cave pool and an indoor jacuzzi. Every unit has some form of private pool or hydromassage tub, plus furnished verandas, smart TVs, wine coolers, and binoculars for caldera-gazing. The Executive Loft Suites feature domed ceilings with attic bridges, illuminated showerheads, and glass accents that play with the Cycladic tradition rather than simply repeating it.
Fly Away Restaurant deserves its own paragraph. Multi-award-winning and destination-worthy, it occupies the upper terrace with caldera views that make the food almost secondary. Almost. The menu runs Mediterranean with local inflections, the sommelier has assembled a wine list worth exploring slowly, and sunset tastings are available for those who want to linger. The heated infinity pool shares the same vista, so you can swim while watching the sky change colours, then walk straight to your table.
The hotel operates seasonally, May through October. Location sits at the northern end of Imerovigli, on the Oia-Fira trail, close to Cavo Tagoo and Santorini Princess but removed enough to feel private. Central Imerovigli village is a seventeen to twenty-five minute walk. Fira is four kilometres south.
Pyrgos: The Hilltop Alternative
If Imerovigli is the logical second-visit choice for caldera addicts, Pyrgos represents something more radical: abandoning the caldera entirely. The island's former capital sits in the interior highlands, crowned by a medieval fortress and surrounded by vineyards. The views are different here, sweeping rather than vertiginous, encompassing the entire island rather than just the flooded crater. Two hotels in Pyrgos offer compelling cases for this approach.
North Santorini, A Luxury Spa Hotel
Pyrgos, Santorini
The name misleads slightly. North Santorini sits not in the north but in Pyrgos, the southern highlands, though it does occupy one of the island's higher elevations with corresponding panoramas. This is a full-service spa hotel, the kind of place where wellness is not an afterthought but the organizing principle.
The Natura Spa anchors the experience. Treatment rooms are designed around the concept of restoration, using Santorinian elements, the volcanic soil, the sea minerals, the wild herbs, as both aesthetic motifs and actual ingredients. A fitness centre complements the spa for those who prefer active recovery. The indoor pool provides refuge when the meltemi winds pick up or the afternoon sun becomes too intense.
Four gastronomic venues spread across the property. The main restaurant handles breakfast and dinner with menus that lean into local sourcing. A sushi bar offers a Japanese counterpoint, unexpected but executed well. The pool bar and infinity pool lounge handle daytime drinks and lighter fare. You could stay on property for a week and never repeat a meal.
Suites range from forty-five to one hundred square metres. The smaller units, labeled Elegant and Deluxe, come with private hot tubs or plunge pools on furnished terraces. The Grand North Suite ups the ante with a private heated pool and expanded outdoor space. Villas accommodate up to six guests across multiple bedrooms, ideal for families or small groups who want the hotel amenities without sacrificing togetherness.
The village of Pyrgos is a five-minute walk. Cava Alta, one of the island's better traditional tavernas, sits just down the road. The location puts you close to several wineries, including Venetsanos and Santowines, and equidistant from the beaches on both the Kamari and Perissa sides of the island. Fira is about five kilometres north.
Santorini Heights
Pyrgos, Santorini
At four hundred eighty metres, this is the highest accommodation on the island. Literally. Santorini Heights sits near the Prophet Ilias Monastery, inside a Natura 2000 protected area, at an elevation where the views encompass everything: caldera to the west, beaches to the east, the entire Santorinian archipelago laid out like a topographical model.
The scale is deliberately minimal. Four suites and one villa, that is the entire inventory. The local architect who created the property returned home after years abroad with a specific vision: barefoot luxury grounded in simplicity. Each suite reflects that philosophy through restraint rather than excess. Heated private pools come standard. The superior suites add sunken lounges for those who want to sink deeper into relaxation. Clay floors, wicker baskets, whitewashed walls, natural materials in natural settings.
There is no restaurant. This is either a dealbreaker or a revelation, depending on your preferences. Meals arrive via room service, sourced from an award-winning local establishment. The communal kitchen stocks homemade bread and cakes. Barbecues happen a couple of times a week, thrown informally by the owners. Staff share their mobile numbers for WhatsApp requests, breaking down the barrier between host and concierge. Stefanos, the founder, leads walking groups to the nearby monastery. Thomas, the manager, receives rapturous reviews for anticipating needs before they are expressed.
Cooking classes use ingredients from the on-site organic garden. Herbs appear in everything from breakfast to cocktails. Private stargazing sessions take advantage of the zero light pollution, a telescope trained on the Aegean sky while you hold a glass of local wine. The island's best hiking trails begin at the property, winding down to Kamari, Ancient Thira, or Perissa beach.
This is for travellers who trust themselves to make their own fun, who do not need entertainment programmed for them, who prefer solitude to social scenes. Adults only. Car required for any serious exploration, though Pyrgos village is walkable for dinner.
Fira: The Capital, Reconsidered
First-time visitors often dismiss Fira as too crowded, too commercial, too compromised by mass tourism. They are not wrong about the daytime experience, when cruise ship passengers flood the narrow paths. But Fira after dark is a different proposition. The crowds evaporate. The caldera views rival anywhere on the island. And the infrastructure, the restaurants, the shops, the nightlife, justifies staying in the thick of things rather than on the periphery.
Athina Luxury Suites
Fira, Santorini
The elevator question matters more than you might think. Santorini caldera hotels typically involve stairs, dozens or hundreds of them, carved into cliffs over centuries of habitation. Luggage becomes a logistical challenge. Morning runs to the breakfast room become cardio sessions. Athina Luxury Suites sits below the Metropolis church in downtown Fira, accessed via approximately ninety steps, but once you descend, the property rewards the effort.
Twenty-five suites spread across the cliff face, each built into the volcanic earth in the traditional cave style. Renovations in 2020, 2022, and 2023 brought the interiors to current luxury standards while preserving the architectural DNA. Minimal design, bright tones, modern amenities tucked into ancient forms. Some suites include outdoor jacuzzis. Some face west toward the volcano. All share the same panoramic scope, from Akrotiri lighthouse in the south to Oia castle in the north.
The heated infinity pool dominates the middle terrace, with a swim-up bar inside it. You can order a cocktail without leaving the water, then watch the sunset from your perch. The Aphrodite Spa handles massages, facials, and body treatments in cave-like treatment rooms. The Esperisma Bar-Restaurant occupies the upper balcony, serving as Fira's most reliable sunset meeting point. Breakfast arrives on your private terrace each morning, cooked to order. Afternoon drinks flow into evening meals, Mediterranean flavours against that backdrop.
Amenities run upscale. Hermès or Guerlain toiletries in the bathroom, a choice offered at check-in. Tablets in the rooms for controlling lighting and ordering room service. Memory foam beds with Italian linens. The Black Rock Honeymoon Suite adds a private pool for couples who want maximum seclusion.
The location is both blessing and complication. Fira's centre sits five minutes away on foot. Museums, shops, restaurants, bars, everything clusters within walking distance. But navigating the pedestrian paths with luggage requires assistance, and the hotel provides that, meeting guests at the cathedral to help with the final descent. Once settled, you will not want to leave. And at night, when the day-trippers depart, you will have the caldera largely to yourself.
The Return Trip: What Changes
Coming back to Santorini reshapes the experience. The landmarks you rushed to photograph on the first visit become waypoints rather than destinations. You notice things. The way the light shifts between eleven and noon. The bakery that opens early in Pyrgos. The footpath connecting Imerovigli to Oia, three hours of silent walking with caldera views.
Hotels matter more on the second visit because you spend more time in them. The pool becomes your pool. The terrace becomes your office. You develop preferences, the corner table at breakfast, the bartender who remembers you like mezcal instead of tequila. The property stops being accommodation and starts being home base.
Each of these five hotels facilitates that transition in different ways. LUKAS Aethereal Living offers multigenerational hospitality, the son of the founder continuing what his father built. West East Suites delivers architectural ambition, a building designed by its owners to capture both sunrise and sunset. North Santorini wraps wellness into every touchpoint, from the spa to the sommelier. Santorini Heights strips away services to create space for contemplation. Athina Luxury Suites puts the caldera front and centre while maintaining access to Fira's energy.
The island remains the same. The volcano has not moved. The blue domes still photograph beautifully. But you approach it differently. You know, now, that the sunset is not the point. The point is everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best area to stay in Santorini for repeat visitors?
Imerovigli and Pyrgos offer compelling alternatives to the first-timer destinations of Oia and Fira. Imerovigli provides caldera views with fewer crowds, while Pyrgos delivers hilltop seclusion and proximity to vineyards. Fira remains excellent for visitors who want nightlife and dining options within walking distance.
When is the best time to visit Santorini for a second trip?
May and early June offer warm weather before peak crowds arrive. September and October provide similar conditions with fewer tourists and slightly lower prices. Shoulder season visits allow you to experience the island at a slower pace, which suits the second-time visitor mindset.
Do I need a car on a second visit to Santorini?
It depends on your hotel choice. Properties in Imerovigli and Fira are accessible via bus and taxi. Hotels in Pyrgos, particularly Santorini Heights, essentially require a car for exploring the island. Renting allows you to reach beaches, wineries, and villages that buses do not serve well.
Which Santorini luxury hotel is best for couples?
Santorini Heights offers the most intimate experience, with just five units and an adults-only policy. LUKAS Aethereal Living and West East Suites both cater heavily to couples seeking romantic settings. Athina Luxury Suites has dedicated honeymoon accommodations with private pools.
Which hotels in Santorini have the best sunset views?
All five hotels featured offer sunset views, but the quality differs. West East Suites captures both sunrise and sunset due to its dual orientation. LUKAS Aethereal Living sits at the highest point in Imerovigli with year-round sunset visibility. Athina Luxury Suites provides classic caldera sunset panoramas from Fira.
Are there luxury hotels in Santorini outside the caldera?
Yes. North Santorini and Santorini Heights both sit in Pyrgos, away from the caldera rim. These properties offer island-wide panoramas rather than caldera-specific views, plus quieter surroundings and easier access to beaches and wineries.
What is the elevation of Santorini Heights?
Santorini Heights sits at four hundred eighty metres, the highest accommodation on the island. The property occupies a position near Prophet Ilias Monastery within a Natura 2000 protected area.
Which Santorini hotel is best for spa and wellness?
North Santorini, A Luxury Spa Hotel is designed around wellness, featuring the Natura Spa, an indoor pool, fitness centre, and treatment rooms focused on restoration. The property offers comprehensive spa services as a core part of the experience rather than an add-on.
How many rooms does LUKAS Aethereal Living have?
LUKAS Aethereal Living has eleven suites, ranging from twenty-five to eighty square metres. The small scale supports the personalized, family-run hospitality that defines the property.
Is Imerovigli walkable to Fira and Oia?
Yes. Imerovigli sits approximately ten minutes on foot from Fira along the caldera path. The walk to Oia takes roughly three hours via the famous hiking trail, one of Santorini's most scenic routes.